Golf club guide



June 24, 1958 J. L. SANTORO GOLF CLUB GUIDE Filed OOt.- 25, 1957 INVENTOR. Ja/IA/ Z. J'ANTOEO AZTdE/VEV Unit d aws PatmrO GOLF CLUB GUIDE John L. Santoro, Willowick, Qhio Application October 25, 1957, Serial No. 692,464

6 Claims. or. 273-192 7 This invention relates to. a device for controlling the head of a golf club during an operating stroke so as to constrain the head to swing in a pathparallel to a vertical plane, and to constrain the club face to remain in planes at right angles to said vertical plane at all times during the stroke.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a device which may be detachably connected to a golf club head and which, when so connected, so limits the movement of the golf club head by the shaft that the head can be made to travel only in sucharpath; which can be positioned so that the path extends in the proper direction for the stroke; and which maintainsthe head at right angles across the path while at the same time permitting free tilting of the head about both an axis extending along the path of swing so as to permit changing the angle of the shaft relative to the ground and an axis extending transversely of the path of swing so as to change the pitch of the face of the club.

1 A more specific object is to provide a device'which permits the club head to be swung in arcuate paths or to be moved in horizontal or sloping lineal paths, all parallel to a vertical plane, and thus provides for substantial universal movement of the head parallel to said plane while constraining the face of the head to right angles to said plane. Another specific object is to provide a device of this character and which is practically frictionless so that the stroke made by the player is substantially normal insofar as any resistance thereto is concerned other than the resistance which is deliberately provided for assuring the proper movement of the club head.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description wherein reference is made to the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the device with a .golf club installed, part of the device being shown in section for clearness in illustration;

Fig. 2 is a right side elevation of the device illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration showing different operating positions of the club and device; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modification of the device.

Referring to the drawings, the device comprises generally a base or supporting body 1 on which is fixedly mounted a rigid support 2', the base being adapted to rest upon the surface of the ground and being sufliciently heavy to maintain the support in generally upright position;

Mounted on the upper end of the support is a laterally .extending portion in the form of an arm 3 to the outer end of which is detachably connected a dependent yoke a 23 to' permit the insertion'ofagcluh 'headbetweenf the V 4. The yoke 4 is detachably connected to the arm by j Patented June 24,1953

suitable bolts and nuts 5, for purposes later t'o *be described, and a reinforcing bracket 6 is provided for assuring proper rigidity of the arm and accurate position ,of e y -v. I

A pendulum arm 7 is pivotally connected at its upper end to the yoke 4 and is suspended therefrom so as to swing in a vertical plane extending forwardly and rearwardly of the support. 7

For the purpose of providing an essentially frictionless upper pivotal connection, the pendulum arm 7 is-provided at its upper end with a transverse bearing member in the form of a cylindrical rod 8, which 'isprovided at its ends with small dimples or depressions; 9.9 The yoke 4 has depending arms 10 in which are mounted pivot screws 11 which may be locked in adjusted position by means of nuts 12.

As heretofore mentioned, it is desirable that the upper pivotal connection between the pendulum arm 7 and the yoke be substantially frictionless and for this purpose the inner ends of the screws 11 are tapered to a point, as indicated at 13. The inner ends of the screws enter into the depressions or dimples in the end of the rod 8, and the contour of th'edimples or depressions is such, relative to the ends of the pins, that'substantially only a very small area, approaching closely a point contact, is provided between the pins and the ,ends of the' rod 8. Thus the frictionis substantially eliminated, or at least is so reduced that it does not interfere noticeably with the free swinging of the. club when the device is in use. v

The axis of the upper pivotal connection'between the arm 7 and the yoke 4 extends horizontally and transversely of the support so as to be at right angles to a vertical plane parallel to which the arm 7 is to swing. The rod 8 extends laterally of the arm 7 a considerable distance so as to space the pivot points wellapart so that they can readily withstand turning moments about axes normal to their axis. V I

Pivotally connected to the lower endof the arm 7 "is a link arm 15. The arm 15'is connected to the lower The connections between the screws 19 and the rod 7 18 are identical in all respects to those heretofore described for the upper pivotal connection of the arm 7 so as to provide a substantially frictionlesspivotal connection between the arm 7 and the arm 15. j

Mounted on the forward end of the arm 15 is a head connecting device, indicated generally. at 20. device comprises a yoke 21 having yoke arms 22 in which are mounted coaxial pointed pivots 2 3 and 24, respectively, of which the axis is parallel 'to the axes-.of the upper and lower pivotal conne=, onsprovided "b the screws 11 and 19, heretofore deseribed f j I The pivot 23 is a pointedscrew which. isjadjustable endwise as illustrated The pivojt'24isin the form: ofa pin which isslidable axially in on of the arms22 and is urged axiallytoward the pin 23 a-suitable springg2 5. 7

Thus the pin 24 can be slid endwise away from the pin inner ends of the pins 23 and 24.;The:spring25:sup-

plies only sufficient pressure itjo seat?the ,:p ins"prfoperlywith respect to the head of the;club,'-as isgdescribed :here

pin 24 outwardly and this event of a sudden jerk which would otherwise damage the entire device.

contact, pivotal connection between the head H and the yoke 21. Thus the. head can be rocked about the comprovidedlfor permitting the rocking of the head H to ticular player. For this purpose, the'yoke is connected tothe arm 15 for rockingabout an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the arm 15 which 'arm is, at all times,

constrained to move'parallel to the vertical plane parallel to which the head :rnov'es when it is moving forwardly and rearwardly.

For this purpose, theyoke 21-. is connected on an intermediate arm .26 which, as best illustrated in Fig. 3, is

thereto about a common,axis of the arms. To provide this connection, thearm '15, which is tubular, is provided "with an internal collar. 27. in whicha pin 28 is secured in coaxial relation with the arm by a cross pin 29. The intermediate arm 26 is provided with a bushing 30 which become free of the device in ,mon axis of thepins 23 and 24to change the pitch of its .fa'ceF, I v a However, the angle at which. the shaft is held by different players varies, and consequently, means must be accommodate the shaft to the angle desired by the parf connected to the arm.l5for relative rotation with respect is securedin fixed position by a crosspin. 31 and which rotatably accommodates thepin .28, The pin 28 is pro- 'vided withlalhead32 which bears against the end of the bushing 30 and prevents axial separation of the arm 15 and intermediate arm 26. Thus the arm 26 can rotate aboutthe common axisofitself and the arm 15.

In event the arm 26.should have its axis offset from in the arm 15, then it would be arranged so that it could rotate about "an axis parallel to that of the arm 15. The bearing connection betweenfthe. arms 15 and 26'is substantially frictionless insofar as interference with the a swinging of the club is concerned.

Thus it will be seen that, due tolthe pivotal axis at the upperend ofthe arm 7 being horizontal and extending transversely of a vertical plane parallel 'to which the club is to swing, the arm 7 can be swung only in a path parallel to a vertical plane extending forwardly and rearwardly of the support.

The arm 15, being connected to the lower end of the X arm 7 for swinging about ,a pivotal axis parallel to the axis of the upper pivotal connection 9,.likewise must move parallel to the vertical plane described while being free to swing about its pivotal connection formed by screws 19 .relativeto the arm 7. The intermediate arm 6, being rotatable-about anaxis parallel. to said vertical plane and to the axis of the arm 15 in all positions of the arm 15, permits the tilting of the club head transversely of the'vertical'plane about an axis extending forwardly and rearwardly of the pathof swing so as to change the .angle df the'shaft relative to the ground to accommoo "lhus ths' club canbeinanipulat'ed sothat the head can "be to any vertical-V or horizontal position, parallel to said vertical plafle'fe'ither forwardly or r'earwardly of support; and high from theground or on'the ground. lt thus be med an arcuate paths, horizontal paths,

or sloping linear paths, which extend forwardly and rearwardly in a direct line of approach to the ball. The face can be tilted forwardly and rearwardly of the vertical plane to changethe pitch of the face, but it cannot be tilted about an upright axis parallel to said vertical plane so as to position the face in a position which would cause the ball to be deflected out of the course intended along the ground.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, this movement permitted is such that the head H can be moved along the ground while the face F is maintained in the proper right angular relation to the proposed path of the ball during travel of the head from a position rearwardly of the support to a position forwardly of the support.

Accordingly, therefore, the device is operable to assure that the stroke made by the operator is properly made.

If desired, a suitable rest or finger 34'is provided on the arm 3 in a position to be engaged by the club shaft S when the club is not being used. Thus, the club head can be tilted to dispose the shaft behind the finger and supported in upright positionwithout detaching the head H from the yoke 21.

Furthermore, on the arm 7 is a snap fastening device or clamp 35 into which the arm 15 or 26 can be snap fastened when swung up into substantial parallelism to the arm 7, for holding the connecting device 20 off the ground and preventing damage thereto when it is not in connection may be made between the pendulum arm and the link arm. As illustrated in Fig. 5, there is shown a pendulum arm 37 which is the same in all respects as the arm 7 except that, connected thereto is a yoke 38 which is so connected that the arms thereof extend downwardly, instead of forwardly as in Fig. 2. The link arm 39, corresponding to the arm 15, is pivotally connected to the yoke by a pivot means having a horizontal axis extending transversely of the path of swing. "In this arrangement, the arm 39 can be swung to the forward posi tion indicated by dot and dash line 39a in Fig. 5, for use by a right-hand player,but if it is desired, it can be swung to a'position at the opposite side of the arm 7, as indicated by the dotted line 39b in Fig. 5, and the device then turned about the upright axis of the support.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that, by utilizing the device while practicing putting, for example, 8.11116 and correct operation of the putter is assured. It has been found that, after a short while of practicing with the movement'of the putter constrained to the proper positions by the device, the putting ability of the player is very greatly increased and the poor putting due to misalignment of the face of the club ina direction transversely of the vertical plane parallel to which the club head is swung, and due to bodily movement of the club head back and forth across the normal path, parallel to a vertical plane, in which it should be swung, are eliminated.

Alignment of the device for a particular line of travel of the ball is effected by shifting the base 1 and rotation of the base 1 about a vertical axis.

Thus it is seen that only true forward and rearward swinging motion of the club head parallel to a preselected vertical plane is permitted by the pivots 11; independent components of movement are permitted by the pivots 19;

the rocking of the front face of the club about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the path of swing is permittedby the pivots 23 and 24, and the rocking of the olnb head about an axis extending forwardly and rearwardly' of the path of swing is permitted by the pivot Thus the swing of the club is unrestrained except that the plane of the putting face, indicated at F, cannot be rocked about an axis which is both parallel to said vertical plane and parallel to the face F, and thus disposed at an angle transversely of the line of swing.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device for the purposes described and comprising a base, a support mounted thereon and having a laterally offset portion spaced above the ground level, a pendulum arm, a link arm, upper transverse horizontal pivotal means pivotally connecting the pendulum arm to said portion and constraining said pendulum arm to swing in a vertical plane extending forwardly and rearwardly of the support, a lower horizontal pivot means pivotally connecting the link arm to the lower end of the pendulum arm at a location spaced below the upper pivotal means and constraining the link arm to moveparallel to said plane with the link arm and relative to the link arm, concurrently, a yoke arm, longitudinal pivotal means connecting the yoke arm to the link arm for rocking of the yoke arm about a rocking axis parallel to said plane and to said link arm, said, yoke arm having at its forward end a pair of arms between which a golf club head can be accommodated with its opposite ends adjacent the opposite arms, respectively, detachable pivotal means carried by the yoke arms and having an axis disposed in a plane normal to said rocking axis and engageable with opposite ends of the club head and positioned for connecting the club head and yoke for relative rocking movement of the head and yoke arm about the axis of the detachable pivotal means.

2. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that the complementary pivoting parts of each of said pivot means engage each other with substantially point contact.

3. A structure according to claim 1 characterized in that the complementary pivoting parts of said pivot means engage each other substantially frictionlessly.

4. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that part of the pivot means of the yoke arm which engages one end of the club head is spring seated under light pressure and is operative to snap out of engagement with the head when the head is jerked forwardly or rearwardly relative to the yoke arms at speeds substantially greater than those of normal manipulation of the club on a stroke,

5. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that the upper pivotal means is detachably connected to said portion of the support and is adapted to be connected thereto in a position in which the pivotal axis is horizontal and extends transversely of the support with the link arm extending forwardly, and to be reversed and connected in a position in which the upper pivotal means is reversed end for end so that the link arm extends rearwardly, whereby the device can be used by a left-hand golfer as well as a right-hand golfer.

6. A training device for controlling the swing and alignment of a golf club and comprising a base adapted to rest upon the ground in stationary condition, a generally upright support extending upwardly from the base and having a portion projecting laterally from the support, a pendulum arm, upper pivot means pivotally connecting'the pendulum arm to said portion for swinging of the pendulum arm about a horizontal axis extending laterally of the support, said pendulum arm normally depending from said pivot means and being freely swingable thereabout from a position rearwardly of a vertical plane through the axis of the upper pivot means to a position forwardly of said plane, a yoke device, pivotal means on the forward end of the yoke device for detachably pivotally engaging opposite ends of the golf club head so as to detachably connect the head to the yoke device for relative rocking movement of the head and yoke device about the axis of the detachable pivotal means, a link arm, lower pivot means connecting one end of the link arm to the lower end of the pendulum arm for swinging of the link arm relative to the pendulum arm about a lower horizontal axis parallel to the axis of said upper pivotal connection, and means connecting the other end of the link arm to the yoke device for relative rocking movement of the yoke device and the link arrn'about an axis parallel to the vertical plane which extends at right angles to the axes of the upper and lower pivotal means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,448,904 Millner Sept. 7, 1948 2,458,932 Cottingham Jan. 11, 1949 2,472,065 Cottingham June 7, 1949 2,706,635 Thomas Apr. 19, 1955 

